Sports glove engineers HIRZL AG have signed European Nations Cup winner and Solheim Cup hopeful Anna Nordqvist to compete using their gloves for the 2011 / 2012 season.

Nordqvist is a Major Champion (2009 LPGA Championship, only her 5 th professional start); a multiple winner on the LPGA Tour (LPGA Championship, LPGA Tour Championship, Mojo 6); and she played in the 2009 Solheim Cup in her first year of eligibility and, currently 11th in the European team points list, is in excellent position make a return to this year's event at Killeen Castle in September.

The new business relationship represents something of a change in direction for the rapidly ascending glove engineering brand, but is part of a strategic vision to win HIRZL acclaim on the professional Tours as rapidly as possible.

Coming off a top-10 finish in the first major of the year at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, Anna is very much looking forward to her 6th start of the LPGA Tour season, the Sybase Matchplay Championship in Gladstone New Jersey May 19th , and improving her No. 20 Rolex Rankings position.

HIRZL CEO Bagher Pirouz is delighted at the new partnership.

"Anna was among the first Tour players to use Hirzl gloves that really made a difference to her playing levels and she was kind enough to tell us so," explains Pirouz. "We're a good match in other areas too... we're both going places this season."

HIRZL made a great deal of positive impressions at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando last January - the world's acknowledged, premier golf innovation showcase. The company's single-minded drive for technical perfection in one specialized area of golf ergonomics really made them stand out.

"I am very impressed with the product," said Anna. "I am confident that the HIRZL gloves will help me take my golf to the next level and I am looking forward to [being] a great ambassador for the brand".

The 24 year-old golfer from Eskilstuna, Sweden retained the European Nations Cup for Sweden with a three stroke victory over England and Germany at La Sella in Spain on Sunday 24 th April with playing partner Sofie Gustafson.

The pair won a tightly fought victory over English duo Laura Davies and Melissa Reid after a final round that began as far from a Swedish victory being a sure thing.

As of the European Nations Cup, Nordqvist is ranked 11 in the Solheim Cup ranking.